Ecofriendly Synthesis of Metal/Metal Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Application in Food Packaging and Food Preservation

Metal (silver, copper, gold, platinum, and their alloys) and metal oxide (zinc oxide, Fe O , Al O , etc.) nanoparticles are generally considered as safe materials for food and drug administration, thus they are used as food preservatives. The advent of nanotechnology has led the advancement of materials with new physicochemical properties for use as potent biocidal agents, nanobiosensors, and nanobased formulations for the detection of food-relevant analytes, such as gasses, organic molecules, and foodborne pathogens. The metal and metal oxide nanoparticles have shown very good biocidal properties and potential application in food processing, packaging, and preservation. To enhance the biocidal property as well as packing property, polymeric matrices have also been incorporated. In this chapter, the ecofriendly properties of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles and their application in the food industry for food processing, packaging, sterilization/preservation, and quality control are reviewed. In addition, the technological features, the current commercial status, and understanding of health implications of these technologies are also discussed. This chapter aims to present an overview of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles with special reference to their mechanism of biosynthesis and their application in the food industry.